Motion picture academy to honor film lab employees

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The motion picture academy is honoring employees of film laboratories with an honorary Oscar.

The move by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences comes at a time when the digital medium is overtaking film. It marks the first time the organization is collectively recognizing a group of individuals with an Academy Award of Merit.

The motion picture academy said Wednesday that this year's other Scientific and Technical Awards recipients will include visual effects supervisor and director of photography Peter W. Anderson and distribution executive Charles "Tad" Marburg.

Anderson, whose credits include "Cocoon" and "The Hunt for Red October," will receive the Gordon E. Sawyer Award for technological contributions that have brought credit to the industry, while Marburg will receive the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the academy.

The academy will honor 19 scientific and technical achievements in total at its annual Scientific and Technical Awards on Feb. 15.

Portions of the Scientific and Technical Awards presentations will be included in the Academy Awards broadcast on March 2.